The connection is so important to me! Here's a mini list of what sometimes can reset the connection if I lose it with T. I've had to work on this in the past because without the connection I'm just a boring uninspired blob.

Jokes
Laughter
Shared experiences
Agreeing on something
Seeing the other person's perspective/understanding each other
Creating a plan to reach a goal
Celebrating when the goal is met
Eye contact
Smiling
Shared memories
Appreciating what another person has done
Appreciating traits about someone
High fives/fist bumps
Recognizing the positive

It really helps that my T actively works on this too and will point out connection issues.