Is it permissible to turn around after completing Shemoneh Esrei?

If a person completes Shemoneh Esrei before the chazan, he may not turn around and face the members of the tzibur who are still davening. There are two reasons for this: 1) doing so may disturb their kavanah, and 2) doing so can give the impression that he skipped part of Shemoneh Esrei. If the chazan has already finished his silent Shemoneh Esrei, a person would not be suspected of skipping if he turns around, but the first reason not to do so is still relevant.  

סי' קכ"ג ס"ב ס"ק י"א ביה"ל ד"ה אסור

Why should a person step back first with his left foot?

A person should take the first step back with his left foot. There are two reasons for this: 1) The first step a person typically takes is with his right foot. If one moves his left foot first, he is showing that it is difficult for him to take leave of the Ribono Shel Olam. Accordingly, a lefty who usually takes his first step with his left foot should take his first step back with his right foot. 2) It is more respectful to step back first with the left foot, which—as one faces the Shechina--is towards the Shechina’s right. According to this line of reasoning, the halacha would be the same for both right-handed and left-handed people. The halacha lema’aseh follows the first line of reasoning.

ס"ג ס"ק י"ג ביה"ל ד"ה אסור

What is the proper way to take three steps back?

There are two methods mentioned in the poskim for taking the three steps back: 1) One should begin by taking a small step back with his left foot. He should then take a larger step back with his right foot. Finally, he should move his left foot back to meet his right foot. 2) One should take his first step back with his left foot. Then he should move his right foot back to meet the left foot. This process is then repeated twice, for a total of three times. At minimum, a step back must be a full step (i.e. the big toe should be aligned with the ankle of the other foot). A smaller step does not count as a step. Some are lenient to take a small step if one is in a very tight space.

ס"ק י"ג-י"ד ביה"ל ד"ה ושעור

• The Achronim say that the forty-two letters of the verse Yihyu L’rotzon have deep Kabbalistic meaning and contain segulos for various matters. They note that it begins and ends with the letter yud, has ten words, and contains the letter yud ten times. Saying it slowly and with feeling can be extremely beneficial to tefilla and helps tefillos to be accepted.

• When saying the words Oseh Sholom he should bow to his left, when saying Hu Ya’aseh Sholom he should bow to his right, and when saying the words V’al Kol Yisroel he should bow forward.

• After a person takes three steps back, he must remain in place and not immediately return to his original spot. Returning immediately would give the impression that the three steps back were not a sincere gesture of a servant taking leave of his master. 

• What should the chazan do if he cannot take three steps back?

• Why did Chazal institute Chazoras Hashatz?

• Why do some shuls daven a shortened Mincha?