A question asked multiple times in my career is, how do you become a successful CEO? While this has many answers, an outstanding determinant is to continue to replicate your best leadership behaviors in those around you and bring people in the fold versus setting them apart. Your people want to absorb, as well as propagate, exemplary behaviors.
No matter how flat your organization, you will always need to interact with all employees. If you need a foundation for dialogue, ask for help. The conversation is vital; employees are free agents who can go wherever they choose. Employees typically respect positional power, and you have the opportunity to use dialogue as a legitimate motivator.