When times are tough, employees may read scary implications into everything from how often bosses close their office doors to what they order for lunch.

Stop them from feeling compelled to read the tea leaves with these two strategies:

1. Keep talking — For workers concerned about job security, nothing is scarier than silence. So even if there’s no news, make sure they know it. A statement as simple as, “We’re still hanging in there and this is what we need from employees going forward…” can go a long way toward reassuring staff. If the news isn’t quite that positive, and you’re unsure how to present it without harming morale, run your statement past another strong communicator first.

2. Get out of the office — Obviously, there are times you need to be in the office with the door closed. But when the economy is turbulent, employees try to read between the lines to get the “real” scoop on the company’s health — and their own job security. So while you know you were just making a dental appointment and then phone-interviewing a new marketing candidate, all staffers will see is a long, closed-door phone session that has them wondering if the company just lost its credit line or a big customer.

As much as possible, open the door, circulate among departments and let them see that all is well. Informal contact can count for as much, if not more, than more formal meetings and memos to reassure employees and keep morale up.