I'm torn between these two viewpoints: 1. Organizations need to be flatter. Too much hierarchy leads to both inefficiency and politics. 2. You can't have more

I'm torn between these two viewpoints: 1. Organizations need to be flatter. Too much hierarchy leads to both inefficiency and politics. 2. You can't have more than 5-8 direct reports and hope to do each of them justice, in both day-to-day operations and career growth.