A shifting device for a transmission of a motor vehicle has an actuation lever (1) which can be selectively transferred into (a) a first selector gate, more particularly an automatic selector gate, in which the lever is mechanically coupled to a transmitting component (2) for actuating a gearshift cable or a gearshift linkage, or (b) a second selector gate, more particularly a sequential selector gate, in which the lever is decoupled from the transmitting component, the transmitting component being movably mounted, more particularly pivotably mounted. A locking means (11) can immobilize the transmitting component such that no force is exerted on the gearshift cable or the gearshift linkage as long as the actuation lever has been transferred into the second selector gate. The transmitting component may be released by a transfer of the actuation lever into the first selector gate.