I once worked for a company with a very flat organizational structure. It was just the CEO and thirty people underneath him.
Every day I had 10 people coming to me with issues they all thought were critically important. I was being pulled in every direction and I couldn't focus on anything. It was a complete mess.
Now I work at a company where I have one boss, and he acts as a funnel for all the work that comes into our department.
I'm never going back to a flat company again, if I can help it.
Not to say it's an unimportant difference, but the only difference is that your boss knows how to say "no" to immediate requests for you time and you don't.
Every day I had 10 people coming to me with issues they all thought were critically important. I was being pulled in every direction and I couldn't focus on anything. It was a complete mess.
Now I work at a company where I have one boss, and he acts as a funnel for all the work that comes into our department.
I'm never going back to a flat company again, if I can help it.