There are some instances where you will need to face the boss in the direction of the raid group but that will apply only to certain fights in the game, which are very few.
I would say 95% of the time you pull a boss, you will need to face him away from your group to keep them safe from the bosses cleave affect. So remember to generate aggro, without cleaving, and face the boss away from your group.
Kitting
As a tank you will sometimes need to preform what is called, Kitting. Which means you will need to pull a group of adds, that will most likely kill you if tanked in one place, and walk in a direction that is designated by your raid leader or party. The best way to kite is to strafe your Toon and not back pedal.
I have seen lots of tanks kitting with their backs turned to the adds they are kitting. Which is really bad considering you cannot dodge or parry when your back is turned to the target that is attacking you.
Learn to strafe when holding adds, it will always come in handy and you will learn to kite. As a kiter you will also have to hold aggo, which just means you need to cleave or throw out an AoE every now and then just to keep the adds focused on you.
It’s a simple tactic that you will easily master once you can successfully perform a strafe!
Aware of Your Surroundings
Being aware of your surrounding area as a tank is key to kitting or moving a boss as well as picking up adds entering the fight periodically.
You will need to keep an eye out on the entire room you are tanking in so that you do not pull any other adds you are trying to avoid or to stay out of any type of spell effect that is in play at certain points of any encounter.
Some fights have massive spell effects that will be un avoidable even if you are aware of what’s in play in the encounter. Best thing to do is to zoom your camera as far as you can go and keep it primed directly above you or at an angle from where you are standing.
That way you maximize the area you are able to see, which will keep you alive and help you plan which way to kite, move a boss or pick up incoming adds.
Being aware of what’s around you is also a sure fire way to keep a close eye on your group just in case they need your help pulling an add off of them when they just so happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time...